Bridge Crash Suit Is Settled

A Montgomery County man who was injured in a Christmas Eve 1981crash on an Emmaus bridge has settled his suit against the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The suit, filed by Dale R. Schmeltzle and his wife, Gayle L., of Harleysville, was settled Monday at a pretrial conference before Lehigh County Judge Robert K. Young.

Schmeltzle, who claimed PennDOT was negligent in the design of the Leiberts Gap Bridge, will receive $35,000 from the commonwealth, according to a spokesman for the attorney general.

The spokesman said Schmeltzle signed a waiver accepting the insurance policy limit of $25,000 from another man involved in the crash.

The bridge over Leiberts Creek is on Pennsylvania Avenue, a state highway that leads from Emmaus to Vera Cruz.

According to the suit, Schmeltzle was driving south on Pennsylvania Avenue and was crossing the bridge when the accident occurred.

A northbound car driven by Bernie S. Slagle missed the curve leading to the bridge, crossed over into Schmeltzle's lane and collided with his car, the suit said.

"The section of the roadway Mr. Slagle was traveling provided no, little, erroneous or inadequate information concerning the bridge conditions, speed and angles, curvature or braking specifications needed to safely navigate that part of the roadway," said a pretrial memorandum filed by Schmeltzle's attorney, Carl A. Maio of Harleysville.

"Specifically, the defendant improperly designed, constructed and maintained the roadway and the bridge in question," it said.

The suit said Schmeltzle's right kneecap was seriously injured in the crash and that he would need reconstructive surgery for a knee replacement.

Both drivers claimed they were driving 20 mph on the road, according to a pretrial document filed by Deputy Attorney General Celeste Y. Lamb of Philadelphia.